The Larrakia Nation is located in Darwin, in the Northern Territory. Traditionally, areas including the Cox Peninsula most of Gunn Point and much of rural Darwin, including Darwin Harbour, are considered to be part of Larrakia Country.

The Larrakia Nations 'Larrakia Rangers' Shared Responsibility Agreement is an agreement between the Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission for the employment of a land management coordinator to assist in the sustainable development of a land management program for the Darwin region.

Shared Responsibility Agreements are agreements between Indigenous communities and governments to provide discretionary funding in return for community obligations. The new arrangements developed from an initiative of the Council of Australian Governments and replace the previous ATSIC system of funding. For more information see 'Shared Responsibility Agreements' below.

Detailed Information:

Purpose
The SRA aims to create employment and education opportunities for local Indigenous people in order that they may better understand and manage their country.

Shared Responsibilities
Communities will:

participate in project management through the project steering committee;

ensure the project complies with cultural obligations, including sacred site preservation;

direct, support and assist the land management coordinator through the project steering committee;

provide participants for the project and support the training of rangers; and

provide in-kind support to assist in the operations of the project, including nursery, equipment, and administrative support.

Families and individuals will:

provide assistance and support in land management issues;

support the Larrakia Nation's policy of 'no work - no pay';

support the project and land management Coordinator; and

nominate eight people to participate in a Certificate III in land management

The Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination has proposed a contribution of $137,000, with $70,000 to be provided for the employment of a land management coordinator and $67,000 for the purchase of a vehicle and required accessories.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has proposed an in-kind contribution through Darwin Regional CDEP by maintaining 18 CDEP land management places and assisting with the development of the business plan. The Bachelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education has proposed an in-kind contribution by employing a 0.6 Lecturer in Land Management.
The Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission has proposed a contribution of $50,000 to provide the Larrakia Nation with land management contracts.

This funding is subject to the parties entering into a legally binding funding agreement.

Performance Indicators and Feedback Mechanisms

The SRA provides for quarterly reporting by the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation on:

the number of CDEP places;

the number of commercial contracts secured through Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation's Ranger Program;

the number of Indigenous people undertaking accredited training; and

the number of indigenous people who transfer from the CDEP scheme to regular employment.

It also provides for regular meetings between the community and SRA working groups, the Darwin Indigenous Coordination Centre and other relevant stakeholders.

Outcomes:

Since its inception, the Rangers Program has initiated works in:

a small nursery of 2,000 plants that grows local plants for revegetation and landscape projects;

development and maintenance of a bush food garden at the Darwin Hospital;

weed eradication from Rapid Creek. This is a contract with Parks and Northern Territory Wildlife;

a Revegetation contract at Holmes Jungle;

attending Women’s Land and Sea Ranger conferences at Gove;

attending a Ranger conference at Maningrida;

attending various Land Management Advisory Committees in the Darwin area;

flora and fauna surveys;

conservation fencing;

ghost net collection at Coburg Peninsula;

planted 1000 trees at the Darwin International Airport;

bush regeneration at the Darwin International Airport child care centre;

environmental protection works at the new Lyons subdivision; and

training in Certificates II and III in Conservation and Land Management.

In addition, six Larrakia young people have completed Certificate IIs and eight Certificate IIIs.